Flexible spindle-coupling



D. T. SHARPLES.

FLEXIBLE SPINDLE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-3,1919.

Patented Apr. 5,

Huh M T all whom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLEXIBLE SPINDLE-COUPLING.

Be it known that I, DAVID T. SnARrLEs, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of West Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Flexible Spindle-Coupling, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is designed primarily for improving the means by which the bowls of centrifugal machines are suspended and driven, but it is applicable generally to suspended spindles revoluble at a high rate of speed to effect the revolution of bodies suspended thereby.

In the operation of centrifugal machines having bowls suspended by spindles through which they are driven at a high rate of speed, there is a tendency to gyratory and irregular actions, particularly at low speeds, on accountof the impossibility of having the center of the mass coincident with the true axis of revolution, and the fact that the machines are not set correctly and are not maintained in correct position.

This tendency to gyratory and irregular actions has heretofore made it desirable to use a comparatively long and limber spindle adapted to permit the bowl a limited freedom of movement without injury to the machine or interference with the operation. But a spindle of this character requires close workmanship in manufacture and is liable to be bent or otherwise deformed in use, the bowl being liable to deflection by a damaged thread or element used in coupling it to the pindle.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide a spindle having a flexible coupling with the bowl, of such character that the bowl will automatically adjust its relation to the spindle, which may be comparatively short and stiff, without affecting the structure or operation of the machine.

The mechanism requires less care in construction, the coupling operation is readily effected, the operation of the machine is not liable to be affected by lack of care in handling and the spindle is not liable to injury either as a result of the action of the bowl or of the application of, power to the spindle by the usual driving mechanism.

The nature and characteristic advantages of my invention will be fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 3,

the resilient ball sections 14. A bearing Inthe drawings, Figure lis a broken vertical sectional View of apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section illustrating a modified construction, and Fig. 4 is a broken vertical section illustrating a further modified construction.

The apparatus, as shown in the drawings for the purpose of illustrating forms of my invention, comprises a bowl 1 having a neck 2 in the form of a threaded stub-spindle, on which is screwed the threaded socket 3 of a coupling member 4, the latter being provided with a concave bearing 5, a peripheral flange 6 and a threaded section 7 A spindle 8 is provided with a the bottom thereof, which is engaged in the bearing 5 by a coupling membenlO loose on the spindle, the member 10 having the concave bearing 11 complementary to the bearing 5 to form a spherical socket conforming to the ball, and an internally threaded section 12 adapted to be screwed on the section 7, into engagement with the flange 6, to provide a coupling between the bowl and spindle.

As illustrated in'Fig. 1 the ball 9 is divided by slots 13, in transverse planes passing through the axis of the shaft, to form 15 extends through the ends of the ball sections 14, at the intersection of the extended slots 13, into frictional contact with the bearing 5, the bearing 15 having a stem 16 extending through the ball into a socket 17 of the spindle 8 and a coiled spring 18 on the stem in bearing engagement with the parts 9 and 15.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ball 9 is made solid excepting its provisions for the play of the bearing 15 through the bottom thereof to make contact with the bearing 5 and the play of the stem 16 in the socket 17 under control of the spring 18.

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the ball 9 is provided with the slots 13 forming the resilient sections 14 acting in the socket 5- 11 without the intervention of the bearing 15.

The suspended spindle 8 is provided, in the form shown, with a worm 19 which is engaged by the worm wheel 20 through which it is revolved, the spindle acting through the frictional coupling means to revolve the suspended bowl 1.

In the form of the coupling shown in Patented Apr. 5, 1921. 1919. I Serial No. 328,120. I

ball 9, at

Fig. 1, the bearing 15 pressed by the spring 18, provides a constant frictional engagement between the ball and its socket, while the resilient sections of the ball expanded by 5 centrifugal force provide a variable friction between the ball and its socket, increasing with the speed of revolution.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 3, the revolution of the spindle 8 is communicated to 10 the bowl 1 through the constant friction ex-' mits the bowl to be driven and to automati-.

cally adjust its position under a limited frictional restraint so as to run naturally without strain upon the driving mechanism, as a result of the machine being out of true or the driving spindle deflected or the parts slightly mutilated or, imperfectly constructed, while the assembly and dissociation of the parts are readily and quickly eifected.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination of a suspended spindle havin a depending bearing ball, a bowl provi ed with a concave bearing engaging said ball, and means comprising a concave bearing connecting said ball and concave bearing first named, whereby said bowl is connected flexibly wlth said spindle; v 2. The combination of a suspended spindle having a depending ball, a coupling member '40 loose on said spindle and having acurved bearing surface engagin said ball, 'a bowl having a coupling mem er engaging said coupling member first named and a curved bearing surface engaging said ball, and

means for applying friction between said ball and its bearings.

3. The combination of a suspended spindle having a depending ball provided with resilient sections, a bowl having a coupling member provided with a concave bearing engaging said ball, and a coupling member having a concave bearin engaging said ball in said concave bearing rst named;

4. The combination of a suspended spindle and a bowl, with a ball connected with one of said parts, means comprising a socket having a concave bearing connected with the other of said parts for connecting said ball thereto, and means for app-lying constant friction between said ball and socket.

5. The combination of a suspended spindle ,provided with a de ending ball, a member movable on said spindle and having a concave bearing surface engaging said ball, a bowl having a stub-spindle provided with a concave bearing surface engaging said ball, a frictional device and means comprising a spring connecting said device with said ball and pressing it against said bearing surface last named. o

6. The combination of a suspended revoluble spindle and a bowl, with a ball and socket joint connecting them, said joint having nfeans for restraining its movements by constant friction and meansfor restraining its movement by variable friction effected by and increasing with the centrifugal force due to revolution.

'7. The combination of a suspended rovoluble spindle and a bowl, with a ball and socket oint connecting them said joint having means for restraining its movement by variable friction effected by and increasing with the centrifugal force due to revolution;

Signed at W est Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, this 1st day of October 1919. 7

DAVID TOWNSEND SHARPLES. 

